__NOTOC__ The surname Keith has several origins. In some cases it is derived from Keith in

East Lothian East Lothian (; ; ) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, as well as a Counties of Scotland, historic county, registration county and Lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area. The county was called Haddingtonshire until 1921. In ...

, Scotland. In other cases the surname is originated from a

nickname A nickname, in some circumstances also known as a sobriquet, or informally a "moniker", is an informal substitute for the proper name of a person, place, or thing, used to express affection, playfulness, contempt, or a particular character trait ...

, derived from the

Middle High German Middle High German (MHG; or ; , shortened as ''Mhdt.'' or ''Mhd.'') is the term for the form of High German, High German language, German spoken in the High Middle Ages. It is conventionally dated between 1050 and 1350, developing from Old High ...

''kīt'', a word meaning "sprout", "offspring", which is further finding its roots in Samskrutham aka Sanskrit, which means field or farm.

List of persons with the surname

A

* Aaron Keith (born 1971), American para-cyclist * Arthur Berriedale Keith (1879–1944), Scottish constitutional lawyer and Sanskrit scholar * Agnes Keith (disambiguation), several people *

Alan Keith Alan Keith, OBE (born Alexander Kossoff; 19 October 1908 – 17 March 2003) was a British actor, disc jockey and radio presenter, noted for being the longest-serving and eldest presenter on British radio by the time of his death aged 94. Back ...

(1908–2003), British radio presenter * Alexander Keith (disambiguation), several people * R. Alexandra Keith (born 1967/1968), American businesswoman * Alice Keith (1890–1962), American music educator, radio professional * Allison Keith (born 1974), American actor and voice actor *

Arthur Keith Sir Arthur Keith FRS FRAI (5 February 1866 – 7 January 1955) was a British anatomist and anthropologist, and a proponent of scientific racism. He was a fellow and later the Hunterian Professor and conservator of the Hunterian Museum of the ...

(1866–1955), Scottish anatomist and anthropologist * Arthur Keith (geologist) (1864–1944), American geologist

B

* Ben Keith (

fl. ''Floruit'' ( ; usually abbreviated fl. or occasionally flor.; from Latin for 'flourished') denotes a date or period during which a person was known to have been alive or active. In English, the unabbreviated word may also be used as a noun indic ...

1950-1960s), American musician * Ben E. Keith, American businessman *

Benjamin Franklin Keith Benjamin Franklin Keith (January 26, 1846 – March 26, 1914) was an American vaudeville theater owner, who played an important role in the evolution of variety theater into vaudeville. Biography Early years Keith was born in Hillsboro Br ...

(1846–1914), American vaudeville theatre owner * Bill Keith (disambiguation), several people * Brandon Keith (born 1984), American football player *

Brian Keith Robert Alba Keith (November 14, 1921 – June 24, 1997), known professionally as Brian Keith, was an American film, television, and stage actor who in his six-decade career gained recognition for his work in films such as the Disney family ...

(1921–1997), American actor

C

* Carl D. Keith (1920–2008), American chemist and inventor * Charles A. Keith, American football, basketball and baseball coach * Charles H. Keith, American music publisher * Charles S. Keith (1873–1945), American businessman and politician * Charlie Keith (1836–1895), British clown and circus manager * Charlton Keith (born 1982), American football player * Colt Keith (born 2001), American baseball player * Craig Keith (born 1971), American football player

D

* Damon Keith (1922–2019), American jurist * David Keith (born 1954), American actor and director * Donald Keith (author), pseudonym of an American writing team, Donald and Keith Monroe * Donald R. Keith (1927–2004), United States Army general * Duncan Keith (born 1983), Canadian ice hockey player

E

Eartha Kitt Eartha Mae Kitt (née Keith; January 17, 1927 – December 25, 2008) was an American singer and actress. She was known for her highly distinctive singing style and her 1953 recordings of "C'est si bon" and the Christmas novelty song "Santa Baby" ...

, born Eartha Keith (1927–2008), American singer and actress * Eliza D. Keith (1854–1939), American educator, suffragist, journalist *

Elmer Keith Elmer Merrifield Keith (March 8, 1899 – February 14, 1984) was an American rancher, firearms enthusiast, and author. Keith was instrumental in the development of the first magnum revolver cartridge, the .357 Magnum (1935), as well as the la ...

(1899–1984), American firearm enthusiast * Eoin Keith, Irish ultramarathon runner

F

* Farley Keith (born 1962), American music producer and disc jockey * Francis Edward James Keith, Scottish military leader

G

* Geoff Keith (1937–1975), British cricketer * George Keith (disambiguation), several people * Gillian Keith (born 1972), Canadian musician * Gordon Keith (radio host) (

1990-2000s), American radio personality

H

* Hamish Keith (born 1936), New Zealand art scholar * Harold Keith (1903–1998), American author * Harry Keith (1899–1982), British forester and plant collector * Hastings Keith (1915–2005), American politician * Headley Keith (1927–1997), South African cricketer * Henry Keith (disambiguation), several people

I

Ian Keith Ian Keith (born Keith Ross; February 27, 1899 – March 26, 1960) was an American actor. Early years Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Keith grew up in Chicago. He was educated at the Francis Parker School there and played Hamlet in a school pr ...

(1899–1960), American actor * Isabelle Keith (1898–1979), American film actress

J

* James Keith (disambiguation), several people * Jeff Keith (born 1958), American musician * Jennie Keith, American anthropologist *

Jeremy Keith Jeremy Philip Charles Keith (born 1964) became chief executive of Derby County after a corporation he controlled with two others bought the club out of receivership for £3 in 2003. He had previously been a director at Portsmouth and had a finan ...

(

1990-2000s), British football club manager and owner * Jim Keith (1949–1999), American author * Joe Keith (born 1978), British footballer * John Keith (disambiguation), several people

K

Kenneth Keith Sir Kenneth James Keith (born 19 November 1937) is a New Zealand judge. He was elected to the International Court of Justice in November 2005, serving a nine-year term during the years 2006 through 2015. Keith was educated at the Auckland G ...

(born 1937), New Zealand jurist * Kenneth Keith, Baron Keith of Castleacre, British businessman * Kenton Keith (born 1980), Canadian football player * Kenton Keith (diplomat) (

1990s), American ambassador * Kevin Keith (born 1963), American prisoner * Khalifa Keith (born 2003), American football player *

Kool Keith Keith Matthew Thornton (born October 7, 1963), known professionally as Kool Keith, is an American rapper and record producer known for his surreal, abstract, and often profane or incomprehensible lyrics. Kool Keith has recorded prolifically both ...

(

1990-2000s), American hip hop artist

L

* Leslie Keith (1906–1977), American musician * Lierre Keith (born 1964), American writer, radical feminist, food activist, and radical environmentalist *

Lisa Keith Lisa Keith (born 1960), currently known as Lisa Bernard, is an American contemporary/ pop singer, probably best known for her work as a backing vocalist for other artists and lead vocalist on Herb Alpert's hit single from 1987, " Making Love in t ...

(

1980-2000s), American musician

M

* Marino Keith (born 1974), Scottish footballer * Marlise Keith (born 1972), South African artist * Matt Keith (born 1983), Canadian ice hockey player * Max Keith (

1930-1940s), German businessman with Coca-Cola Company * Miguel Keith (1951–1970), American Marine posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor * Mike Keith (disambiguation), several people * Minor C. Keith (1848–1929), American shipping and railroad businessman

N

* Nathaniel S. Keith (1838–1925), American engineer and scientist

P

* Penelope Keith (born 1940), British actress

R

* Richard Keith (disambiguation), several people * Robert Keith (disambiguation), several people * Rodd Keith (1937–1974), American musician and songwriter

S

* Sam Keith (1921–2003), American author * Sandra Keith (born 1980), Canadian Olympics athlete * Shannon Keith (

1990-2000s), American animal rights activist * Sheila Keith (1920–2004), British television and film actress * Sheridan Keith (born 1942), New Zealand author, artist, broadcaster and curator * Slim Keith (1917–1990), American socialite and fashion icon *

Stuart Keith George Stuart Keith (4 September 1931 – 13 February 2003) was an English and American ornithologist. He was a champion birder, editor of a series of books about African birds, and co-founder of the American Birding Association (ABA). Early l ...

(1931–2003), British ornithologist

T

* Terry Keith (

1980s-90s), American geologist * Timothy Z. Keith (

1970-2000s), American psychologist *

Toby Keith Toby Keith Covel (July 8, 1961 – February 5, 2024) was an American country music singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, and businessman. Keith released his chart-topping debut single, "Should've Been a Cowboy", in 1993. During the 1990s ...

(1961–2024), American country singer, songwriter, actor, and record producer. * Tom Keith (1946–2011), American radio engineer and radio personality * Trever Keith (born 1969), American musician and music producer

V

* Vicki Keith (born 1961), Canadian swimmer

W

* Warren Keith (

1990-2000s), American film actor * Willard Keith (1920–1942), World War II United States Marine Corps captain * William Keith (disambiguation), several people

Z

* Zak Keith (

1990-2000s), British-born Swedish musician

List of persons with the surname

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

P

R

S

T

V

W

Z

See also